Thirty-seven gold coins stolen by salvagers from a nearly 310-year-old shipwreck off the coast of Florida have been recovered by authorities, the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission announced this week.
The recovery “marks a significant milestone in a long-running investigation” into the theft and illicit trafficking of such historic artifacts, the agency said in a news release Tuesday. The estimated aggregate value of the coins is over $1 million.
Authorities say 101 gold coins were salvaged in 2015 from the 1715 flotilla — a collection of treasure-laden Spanish ships that sank during a hurricane off the central Florida coast.
While 51 of those coins were “properly reported and assessed,” 50 were not disclosed and subsequently stolen, according to Florida authorities.
The investigation uncovered illegal sales of the coins in 2023 and 2024. Authorities used search warrants to obtain the coins from private residences, safe deposit boxes and auctions.
The agency has identified a suspect — a family member of the team that contracted to salvage the wreck a decade ago — but it’s unclear whether they have yet been formally charged.
As required by state and federal law, recovered artifacts will be returned to their “rightful custodians.” Further information on who is the “rightful custodian” of the coins was not immediately available.
“This case underscores the importance of protecting Florida’s rich cultural heritage and holding accountable those who seek to profit from its exploitation,” said Camille Soverel, an investigator for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.
Over the years, salvagers and treasure hunters have found millions of dollars in gold coins from the 1715 fleet – along the coast from Melbourne to Fort Pierce known as Florida’s Treasure Coast.